Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History

    Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016

    C1500–c1700: Migration in early modern England - 1 The context for…

    Full specification wording

    Option 13: c1500–c1700: Migration in early modern England - 1 The context for migration: Change and continuity in reasons for migration and patterns of settlement, including migrants from Europe and Africa.

    Between 1500 and 1700, reasons for migration to England showed both change and continuity.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 1 of 2

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    Between 1500 and 1700, reasons for migration to England showed both change and continuity. Economic opportunity remained a continuous pull factor, attracting skilled European artisans like Dutch weavers. However, religious persecution emerged as a significant new push factor, driving Protestant Huguenots from France to seek asylum. Patterns of settlement evolved; while London remained a primary destination, migrants increasingly settled in regional hubs like Norwich and Canterbury. The period also saw the arrival of Africans, often via trade routes or as servants to wealthy households, establishing small but notable black communities in port cities and London, reflecting England's growing global connections.

    What earns the marks

    • Identify economic migration as a continuous factor, drawing skilled workers from Europe to English towns.
    • Explain the emergence of religious persecution as a changing reason for migration, particularly for European Protestants.
    • Describe the settlement patterns of migrants, noting the concentration in London and specific regional centres like Norwich.
    • Discuss the presence and settlement of African migrants in early modern England, linking this to expanding global trade networks.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Stating that all migrants came for religious reasons.

      Put it right by emphasising that economic motives remained a constant driver.

    • Assuming African migrants only arrived as enslaved people.

      Put it right by noting that many were free individuals working as sailors, musicians, or servants.

    • Believing migrants settled evenly across England.

      Put it right by highlighting their concentration in London, port cities, and specific textile towns.

    Exam tips

    • Clearly distinguish between push factors and pull factors when explaining reasons for migration.
    • Use the Huguenots as a prime example of religious refugees changing the demographic landscape.
    • Mention specific locations like Canterbury or Norwich to demonstrate knowledge of regional settlement patterns.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Option 13: c1500–c1700: Migration in early modern England - 1 The context for migration: Change and continuity in reasons for migration and patterns of settlement, including migrants from Europe and Africa. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    Which of the following was a major reason for the migration of French Huguenots to England during the early modern period?

    Listen

    Between 1500 and 1700, reasons for migration to England showed both change and continuity. Economic opportunity remained a continuous pull factor, attracting skilled European artisans like Dutch weavers. However, religious persecution emerged as a significant new push factor, driving Protestant Huguenots from France to seek asylum. Patterns of settlement evolved; while London remained a primary destination, migrants increasingly settled in regional hubs like Norwich and Canterbury. The period also saw the arrival of Africans, often via trade routes or as servants to wealthy households, establishing small but notable black communities in port cities and London, reflecting England's growing global connections. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify economic migration as a continuous factor, drawing skilled workers from Europe to English towns. Explain the emergence of religious persecution as a changing reason for migration, particularly for European Protestants. Describe the settlement patterns of migrants, noting the concentration in London and specific regional centres like Norwich. Discuss the presence and settlement of African migrants in early modern England, linking this to expanding global trade networks. A common slip: Stating that all migrants came for religious reasons. Instead, emphasising that economic motives remained a constant driver. Exam tip: Clearly distinguish between push factors and pull factors when explaining reasons for migration.

    See it

    A flowchart beginning with a node for reasons for migration to England c1500-c1700, which branches into three. The first branch is economic opportunity as a continuity, leading to skilled European artisans such as Dutch weavers. The second is religious persecution as a change, leading to Protestant Huguenots from France seeking asylum. Both of these feed into a settlement patterns node, which splits into London as the primary destination and regional hubs such as Norwich and Canterbury. The third branch from the top node is Africans arriving via trade routes or as servants, leading to small black communities in port cities and London.
    It shows the continuous economic and new religious reasons for migration, where migrants settled, and the arrival of Africans through growing global connections.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A flowchart beginning with a node for reasons for migration to England c1500-c1700, which branches into three. The first branch is economic opportunity as a continuity, leading to skilled European artisans such as Dutch weavers. The second is religious persecution as a change, leading to Protestant Huguenots from France seeking asylum. Both of these feed into a settlement patterns node, which splits into London as the primary destination and regional hubs such as Norwich and Canterbury. The third branch from the top node is Africans arriving via trade routes or as servants, leading to small black communities in port cities and London.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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